NOVPUB"True Martial Holy Sect or not, I have no reason to be afraid of you," Xu Zimei shook her head, smiling.
"Your name has now spread throughout the entire Shenghua Domain," the elder said with a smile.
"I hear you eradicated the Extinct Heaven Sect."
"So, do you think your Buddha Country or the Fan Family is any better than the Extinct Heaven Sect?" Xu Zimei hopped off the Dark Heaven Tiger.
She stepped towards the pavilion.
"Hard to say," the elder fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
The light rain outside continued to patter.
Willow trees lined the path, translucent water droplets slowly falling from the vibrant green leaves.
As Xu Zimei entered the pavilion, the sound of the woman playing the guqin abruptly stopped.
She lifted her head, her eyes bright as she looked at Xu Zimei.
"For you, it may be hard to say," Xu Zimei said with a light smile.
"But for me, it makes no difference.
They are all just ants."
"Young master, that’s quite a bold statement," the elder replied, unperturbed.
"However, I do believe you have the confidence to back up your words."
"Enough beating around the bush," Xu Zimei waved her hand dismissively.
"What do you want from me?"
"Young Master, you killed our Fan Family’s Holy Buddha Child, and the Buddha Country is very angered," the elder explained.
"And then?" Xu Zimei asked nonchalantly.
"Originally, our Fan Family had an opportunity to go to the Investiture of the Gods Ruins," the elder said, watching Xu Zimei and speaking deliberately.
"This opportunity was reserved for the Holy Buddha Child.
Now he’s dead!"
"So, you want to give this opportunity to me?" Xu Zimei inquired with interest.
"Yes, young master, to represent our Fan Family in the event," the elder replied seriously.
"The Investiture of the Gods Ruins will gather numerous heroes. Not to mention the dangers within the ruins,
Just the other talented disciples heading there are a significant threat.
The Holy Buddha Child had the ability to deal with some of them.
Now that he’s dead, sending any other family member would be mere cannon fodder,
A waste of the spot."
"So you’ve turned to me," Xu Zimei remarked.
"Nothing in this world falls into your lap without reason."
"We only have one demand," the elder took a deep breath, glancing at the woman beside him.
Ultimately, he said, "You must marry the daughter of the current Clan Leader of the Fan Family."
"A ’buy one, get one free’ deal, huh," Xu Zimei chuckled, looking at the woman beside him.
This woman was indeed beautiful.
Tall with willow-shaped eyebrows, a heart-shaped face.
Her eyes brimmed with the essence of Immortal Qi, her skin fair.
Dressed in a light blue robe, she exuded an air of grace and delicacy.
"What do you think, young master?" the elder asked.
"You want to tie me to your Fan Family with a woman," Xu Zimei scoffed.
"It doesn’t seem like a wise decision to me."
"Our actions spring from necessity," the elder shook his head with a sigh.
"When the Holy Buddha Child was still alive, we had the support of the Buddha Country.
The Buddha Country invested heavily in him to vie for the Destiny of our era.
Now that he’s dead, our relationship with the Buddha Country has also cooled considerably."
"Does the Buddha Country know about your Fan Family’s allocation for the Investiture of the Gods Ruins?" Xu Zimei asked.
"If they knew, the decision regarding the allocation wouldn’t be up to me," the elder shook his head.
"What do you think, young master?"
"I don’t like the idea of mixing love with benefits," Xu Zimei stated.
"Nor do I need to compromise for anything."
Hearing Xu Zimei’s words, the woman beside him tugged at the elder’s sleeve.
Seemingly indignant, she said, "Old Ancestor, let’s go.
"If she’s unwilling, why persist shamelessly?"
"Yiyi, stand down," the elder said with a frown of displeasure.
The woman huffed and could only retreat to one side.
"Young Master, you should think this through," the elder continued unwillingly, trying to persuade him.
"The Ruins of the Gods relate to the truth of the gods who vanished in the Mythical Era.
Some people have indeed found Heaven Shaking opportunities within, a place capable of changing one’s destiny.
Although it is fraught with grave dangers, countless people still fight tooth and nail to enter."
Xu Zimei turned his back, his gaze fixed on the distant, hazy sky.
...
These Ruins of the Gods are a product of the Central Continent.
All the Imperial Rule Immortal Sects of the entire Central Continent joined forces to occupy the ruins.
Sects from other continents simply cannot intervene, not even the True Martial Holy Sect.
Over the ages, countless beings have perished in these ruins, their numbers unknown.
But indeed, many have found Heaven Shaking opportunities.
Some have acquired weapons of Ancient Divine Spirits.
Others have found the offspring of pets reared by Divine Spirits.
The most apparent example would probably be the Firmament Emperor.
In his youth, he was expulsed from his clan due to poor aptitude and offending certain individuals.
After several twists of fate, it was said that upon emerging from the Ruins of the Gods,
He suddenly rose to prominence and embarked on the road to becoming a Great Emperor.
After pondering for a moment, Xu Zimei finally said, "Alright, I’ll take that spot from your Fan Family."
"Pleasure doing business," the elder smiled, seemingly unsurprised.
Those who truly understood the Ruins of the Gods, despite knowing the endless dangers within,
Could scarcely resist its lure.
"No, you’re mistaken; this is not a partnership," Xu Zimei shook his head as he stepped toward the elder.
He grabbed the collar of the elder’s green robe and slowly lifted him up.
The elder’s Divine Might flashed by without resistance.
"You’re not qualified to partner with me.
You are fit only to be my subordinates, and perhaps I’ll consider giving you an opportunity to rise,"
"What do you mean, Young Master?" asked the elder in a calm voice.
"Eventually, I will bear the Destiny and ascend to the Upper Realm.
I won’t be able to manage too much of the affairs of Yuan Central Continent,"
Xu Zimei replied.
"If your Fan Family is obedient enough, I might give you an opportunity to ascend before I ascend.
You don’t want to be controlled by Buddha Country forever, do you?"
Hearing Xu Zimei’s words, the elder’s thoughts ran wild.
The shock in his heart was like surging waves, unceasingly tumultuous.
He looked into Xu Zimei’s eyes, the goal that all living beings desperately seek, Destiny,
Seemed to be of minor concern to him. f
Yet Xu Zimei’s eyes were profoundly inscrutable, expressionless and indifferent, showing nothing.
After speaking, Xu Zimei directly flung the elder away.
On the muddy road, the elder’s body hit a nearby willow tree.
Although not much injured, his entire robe was smeared with mud.
"Consider this a lesson for attacking my mount," Xu Zimei said indifferently.
"You should feel lucky that you didn’t resist just now."
The elder was silent for a while, letting the rain fall upon him.
He had intended to use the Ruins of the Gods to form an alliance with Xu Zimei.
The other was the Saint Heir of the True Martial Holy Sect and had also exterminated the Extinct Heaven Sect.
He wouldn’t have opposed Xu Zimei for either of those reasons.
But now he realized he had been gravely mistaken.
Xu Zimei was too domineering.
And even more oppressive than the approach of thriving if one followed him and perishing if one did not.
